The opening ceremonies before the first game of team Finland

The opening ceremonies for the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be held today before the game between Belarus and Finland. The ceremonies will begin at approximately 19.50 and the tournament will be opened by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö.

The opening ceremonies of the tournament will feature a light show designed by Mikki Kunttu, titled Resonice, which will take over the Hartwall Arena ice. The opening piece will be performed by three-time synchronized skating world champions Rockettes and is scored by Tuomas Holopainen, the front-man of Nightwish.

After the light show, the president of the organizing committee Kalervo Kummola, and the president of the IIHF, René Fasel, will hold their opening speeches. The President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö will then open the tournament.The teams’ national anthems will be performed by opera singers Matti Salminen and Hanna Raitala.

Mikki Kunttu tells that for Resonice he sought inspiration from ice hockey and the show will feature the names of familiar ice hockey legends. History will also play an important part in the show, as it does in the ice hockey world. Kunttu says that he sees a strong connection between ice hockey and art.

A few hundred extra tickets have been released from the international ticket quota to this evening’s game, so hockey fans still have a chance to experience the opening ceremonies in person.

The Finnish Lions’ opening game of the World Championship tournament will begin at 20.15. The opening ceremonies will start at 19.50, so fans are encouraged to be at their seats well before puck-drop.